Cubing in Outer Space

[Michael Womack]

I've be wondering what it will be like if we try Speedcubeing in the ISS(International Space Station)? Like will the 0 Gravity have an effect on the speed of the cube?

 

[qqwref]

I don't think normal speedcubing requires gravity, although you might have to hold the cube a bit tighter than usual in zero gravity (depending on your grip style). Even for OH I don't really use the bottom face, but rather hold my cube using friction, with fingers on F and B.

Someone ought to book a ride on one of those weightless-experience planes (cost: $4,950 + 5% tax) and spend one of the loops doing a solve or two.

 

[Michael Womack]

I don't think normal speedcubing requires gravity, although you might have to hold the cube a bit tighter than usual in zero gravity (depending on your grip style). Even for OH I don't really use the bottom face, but rather hold my cube using friction, with fingers on F and B.

Someone ought to book a ride on one of those weightless-experience planes (cost: $4,950 + 5% tax) and spend one of the loops doing a solve or two.

Well here on earth gravity is always pushing on all sides of the puzzle. But in space there is not a force that's always pushing on all the sides.

 

[10461394944000]

gravity is only a little bit weaker in the ISS than it is on the earths surface

 

[qqwref]

Well here on earth gravity is always pushing on all sides of the puzzle

wat

 

[Michael Womack]

wat

You see since that gravity is always pulling things down and take that and apply it to the puzzle when you're rotating it.

 

[Tempus]

The only problem I can see with cubing in zero-G is that you would need a whole new system of notation for algorithms because there would be no difference between U and D.

 

[Phillip1847]

There is gravity alright. You are just falling all the time so it doesn't feel like it.

 

[10461394944000]

You see since that gravity is always pulling things down and take that and apply it to the puzzle when you're rotating it.

"down" is not the same as "centre of the cube"

(unless you are talking about the core's gravity which you probably arent)

 

[Tempus]

There is gravity alright. You are just falling all the time so it doesn't feel like it.

By that definition of gravity, there isn't a zero-G place in the universe. I find definitions that render words useless to themselves be useless.

 

[Rocky0701]

We could create a fundraiser to send Feliks to Mars.

 

[Lazy Einstein]

OH would be better x and y rotations would be so much easier.

 

[mDiPalma]

In a vessel in space, the speedcubing experience would be highly similar to that on Earth. As qqwref said, you may need to hold the puzzle more tightly to account for the fact that gravity is no longer playing a major role in your grip.

Outside of a vessel in space, the low temperature and pressure would have interesting effects on the functionality of the puzzle. The viscosity of the lubricant would approach infinity (as it froze) and the puzzle itself would not rotate under any human amount of force. A dry cube may maintain minimal functionality before eventually cracking (or it may crack right off the bat! I'm not sure!).

 

[kcl]

In a vessel in space, the speedcubing experience would be highly similar to that on Earth. As qqwref said, you may need to hold the puzzle more tightly to account for the fact that gravity is no longer playing a major role in your grip.

Outside of a vessel in space, the low temperature and pressure would have interesting effects on the functionality of the puzzle. The viscosity of the lubricant would approach infinity (as it froze) and the puzzle itself would not rotate under any human amount of force. A dry cube may maintain minimal functionality before eventually cracking (or it may crack right off the bat! I'm not sure!).

Outside of space it doesn't matter, you'll be dead anyway

 

[brian724080]

The only problem I can see with cubing in zero-G is that you would need a whole new system of notation for algorithms because there would be no difference between U and D.

No you don't, the notation system is based on how you hold it

 

[newtonbase]

Pieces could end up anywhere if you had a pop and reassembling would be a nightmare without gravity.

 

[mark49152]

Using a stackmat timer would be tricky. You'd need to tether the cube somehow rather than placing on the mat, and if you stop the timer too hard, your head could hit the ceiling.

 

[ryanj92]

'Danish' solves would be a lot easier

 

[CiaranBeahan]

I wonder how feet would work? HAHA!

 

[cubernya]

By that definition of gravity, there isn't a zero-G place in the universe. I find definitions that render words useless to themselves be useless.

http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/space-environment/1-is-there-gravity-in-space.html